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Cafe Don Ruiz

4.6 (317 reviews)
Closed • 7:30 am - 6:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Cafe Don Ruiz Photos

CAFE DON RUIZ ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Quiet
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Cafe Don Ruiz

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Wall Art
Olivia K.

For your information, this coffee shop is located inside a museum, so you need to enter into the gate first (which is free to enter) to find it. I've noticed that many people tend to order hot coffees even though it's really hot outside. But I was craving a nice cold iced coffee. They offer iced options and even speciality coffee beverages as well, so it was just what I was looking for. I personally opted for the HAZELNUT CREAM MOCHA. I tasted the hazelnut flavor. It was a nice non-artificial tasting flavor. It had the right amount of sweetness. So, I personally really enjoyed it! You can escape inside to find cool air inside and a pretty wall art while you wait inside. You can also find small coffee bags that have roast dates on it to buy! Although I didn't get to try many coffee shops around town as I would have liked, this one was quite memorable.

Green tea
Roberta H.

Coffee was needed after our long delayed flight! We got our rental car and headed for San Juan! This coffee place is inside of a huge courtyard building near the Fort. It was a beautiful building. The coffee place is small but the prices are good and the coffee was good! there was even a cat inside.

Creamy coconut
Cat N.

One of the best cafes in old san juan. Location is hard to find but its near the museum of the americas and behind a church I think. I stopped by on a walking tour. we were starving. I got a guava pastry and scarfed it down without taking a picture. The creamy coconut latte was bomb. Very island coffee drink. Customer service was so friendly and helpful.

Mayra B.

Tried the breakfast croissant (though they were out of croissants and served it on what I believe was a ciabatta roll, labeled as "original bread"). Surprisingly, it worked really well! The sandwich came with turkey, spinach, onions, peppers, pesto, and cheese, flavorful and satisfying without feeling too heavy. The pesto added a really nice touch . At $14.99, it's definitely on the pricier side, but considering it's in the San Juan tourist area, it's pretty understandable. Good quality, decent portion, and a solid breakfast option when you're nearby. I'd come back and try it again, hopefully next time they'll have the croissant!

French toast
Heily P.

This is very conveniently located close to the Castillo San Felipe del morro which I think is what provides it much clientele. Pictured is my daughter's "French toast". The fruit was good but that was literally just white bread with little else. What was delicious was an almond croissant that I got from there. I'm sure there are better places in the area

Roaster
Jason P.

I had bookmarked Cafe Don Ruiz in Yellp because ir was well rated. I got to the area, but I couldn't find it. That's because the only way to access it is through the gran courtyard of the Museum of the America's. Who knew? They only use Puerto Rican coffee. My black iced coffee was pretty good. Unless I was visiting the museum specifically, I'd be unlikely to return because it takes a while to get to since there is nearby street access. Four Stars

coconut latte
Sabrina J.

Delightful coffee shop with beautiful flowers, pillows, and wallpaper tucked in the Museo de las Americas. I tried the creamy coconut latte, and it was incredible! One of the best coffees I've ever had. Cafe Don Ruiz seems very serious about providing high-quality coffee. I was very impressed. And it doesn't hurt that it's so pretty inside.

Latte frío
Alejandra A.

Service was great. Accommodating and friendly. The coffee was good. We had some paninis and the bread was AMAZING. It's within a plaza that is still being remodeled(?) There is some construction outside, but doesn't affect the coffee shop at all.

Stephanie C.

Cafe Don Ruiz is a chain coffee shop but it had We almost gave up looking for it because it was hidden inside the building where all the doors were closed except for the construction entrance. So glad we went the extra mile to find it because the mallocra and coffee hit the spot on a humid day. They also have some tea blends and a decent simple lunch menu.

Phylicia H.

Amazing and delicious coffee right near the forts. I stopped by right before closing and ordered iced cafe con leche and a hot version with almond milk. Big and spacious inside the coffee shop, friendly service and delicious coffee. Loved drinking the iced coffee while exploring the forts!

As is true everywhere in the city, cats are part of the Old San Juan experience. Just hanging out and enjoying the vibe.
L F.

Delicioso coffee, pastries, and sandwiches at this cozy cafe with cushioned couches and a mini museum showing coffee machinery. Lovely patio in the enclosed historic square. Friendly service. Pistachio vanilla latte was outstanding.

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11 months ago

I love this "hidden" cafe in Old San Juan. Coffee was amazing and the ham and cheese sandwich was great

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2 years ago

Hard to find, but good coffee. Breakfast pastries were pretty good. Indoor and covered outdoor seating.

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2 years ago

Quick and delicious place to get a quick bite to eat when at Castillo San Felipe del Morro. A coffee shop with sandwiches!

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2 years ago

They know coffee!! Tucked away inside plaza, great spot to sip coffee in the shade. Yummy baked goods too

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Chocobar Cortés - Puertorriqueño Traditional and Chocolate-Coco Frappuccino

Chocobar Cortés

4.6(2.5k reviews)
0.5 km
•$$

Overall 4.5 out of 5…read more Can honestly say, I've never tried something like these Mofongo Tacos. Very unique and tasty. Although the pork was a bit dry, the avocado and chocolate sauce rounded it out. Got a ham and egg burrito for my sons and they both enjoyed splitting it. Was VERY large. Wife enjoyed her Puerto Rican Bowl a lot. I personally thought the pork, again was dry, but she didn't seem to mind. Ended it with a lava cake. We ordered it after eating everything and it took A LONG time. Granted, that just means it's fresh. Just didn't expect it to take 20+ minutes. So PRO TIP: Don't order it after eating. Order it early.

Walked into Chocobar Cortés skeptical because chocolate ketchup sounds like an Urban Dictionary…read moreterm. Ordered a regular burger. Burger was solid. Nothing life-changing. The chocolate ketchup was surprisingly decent, but I wasn't standing up yelling, "GET THE SCIENTIST!". Somebody put chocolate in ketchup and I handled it pretty well. Also got an Old Fashioned with chocolate dripped around it. It was fine. The atmosphere was hectic. I went alone, so I was just sitting there holding my little chocolate whiskey while everybody else had people who knew where they were. Couldn't eat upstairs either. I really wanted to. Don't know whats up there. Writing this out, I realize "this place won me over" might be generous. We reached a ceasefire. I'd give it 3.5 stars, rounding to 4 because I ordered the most basic thing available and can't make that everybody's problem. Might come back next time I'm in San Juan and actually participate in the concept.

Photos
Chocobar Cortés - Interior bar area

Interior bar area

Chocobar Cortés - Breakfast wrap

Breakfast wrap

Chocobar Cortés - Amazing chocolate coffee drink

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Amazing chocolate coffee drink

Anita La Mamma del Gelato - One Scoop @ A Time

Anita La Mamma del Gelato

4.7(328 reviews)
0.4 km
•$$

Anita Gelato was so worth the stop! It was super busy when we went, but the line moved surprisingly…read morefast, so don't let that scare you away. They have an incredible selection of flavors--three full freezers of gelato with so many unique options to choose from. Whether you like classic flavors or want to try something more adventurous, there's truly something for everyone. If you're walking around Old San Juan and craving something sweet, this is the perfect place to stop. Definitely one of the best treats we had on the trip!

Very cute gelato shop in old San Juan! We drove by one day and saw a line around the store, so we…read morehad to stop today when we were walking in the area! Very cute interior, clearly well thought out and designed to be a photo/insta location. The colors and decor all flowed well. But beyond that, they have wonderful flavors! We tried about 7 in our group and they were all good. Tasted high quality and you could distinguish what the flavor was supposed to be. Fresh made on site I would guess. The order process is a little difficult w use they have so many flavors spread out over about 15 feet of displays. Hard to pick what you want without running back and forth to see if you would miss anything! The seating areas were nice and had lots of seating. Disappointed to see that the bathroom was out of order and just had an envelope with a handwritten message on it. Really took away from the experience. But would enjoy again!

Photos
Anita La Mamma del Gelato - Strawberry

Strawberry

Anita La Mamma del Gelato - Chocolate Overload: (Salted Chocolate)

Chocolate Overload: (Salted Chocolate)

Anita La Mamma del Gelato - Last Call: (@ Some Point, These Folks Start Wrapping Things Up In The Sit-Down Area But Ordering Up Front Is Still Happening)

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Last Call: (@ Some Point, These Folks Start Wrapping Things Up In The Sit-Down Area But Ordering Up Front Is Still Happening)

Café Cuatro Sombras - 8oz Latte

Café Cuatro Sombras

4.4(624 reviews)
0.7 km
•$$

Café Cuatro Sombras - My Favorite Coffee Spot in Old San Juan…read moreCafé Cuatro Sombras was one of the stops on our walking food tour, and this place surprised me in so many ways! It quickly became my favorite coffeehouse in Old San Juan. This place serves some of the best coffee I've ever tasted, ranking right up there with the amazing coffee I've had in Rome and Athens. The flavor was incredibly smooth, with no overpowering acidity or bitterness. It was simply the perfect cup of coffee! But the real surprise was the ham and cheese croissant. The saltiness of the ham and cheese paired beautifully with a mysterious sweet jam. I would never have guessed it was guava, especially since I'm not usually a fan of this fruit. Yet, somehow, this guava jam completely won me over! Now, I'm on a mission to find a similar guava jam here in Raleigh. Café Cuatro Sombras turned out to be so much more than just another stop on our food tour. Between the exceptional coffee and that unforgettable ham and cheese croissant with guava jam, it was a standout experience. I highly recommend Café Cuatro Sombras if you're visiting Old San Juan!

Stopped by this cafe after reading it was a stop on a local food tour. Per the food tour reviews,…read morewe had to try the croissant with ham and cheese and guava butter which did not disappoint! The cafe itself is small but we were able to find seating anyways. Service was somewhat confusing... you have to order at the counter and then wait for them to call your name. They called our names a couple times but were not ready each time leading to our confusion. We ordered a latte and the croissant and both were delicious! Would definitely come back for this croissant!

Photos
Café Cuatro Sombras - Caramel latte

Caramel latte

Café Cuatro Sombras - Cuatro Sombras Panini

Cuatro Sombras Panini

Café Cuatro Sombras - Croissant sandwich and hazelnut latte

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Croissant sandwich and hazelnut latte

Himalaya Ice

Himalaya Ice

4.3(76 reviews)
0.4 km
•$

If you're wandering around Old San Juan sweating through your 10,000th step of the day, do yourself…read morea favor and stop into Himalayan Ice Company. First--rolled ice cream is basically edible entertainment. I stood there way longer than necessary watching them flatten, scrape, and roll it like I had nowhere else to be. It's giving Food Network... but you get to eat the finale. The flavors? BANGING. Super creamy, fresh, and not overly sweet--which means you can actually finish it without feeling like you need to lie down immediately after. Big win. The vibe is adorable--very vintage, colorful, and just a fun little spot to duck into and cool off. Definitely one of those places you end up taking pictures in without planning to. Service was adequate--nothing over-the-top, but they kept things moving and got us through the line without any issues, even when it was busy. Place looked clean, which matters when people are basically performing dairy gymnastics in front of you. Overall: great treat, fun experience, and absolutely worth the stop. Would I go back? Yes--for the ice cream... and to watch the rolling again like it's my new personality.

Anita Gelato had a ridiculous line out the door, so we found this as an alternative to try to cool…read moreoff from the heat. The wait wasn't too long, but the process of making one of these ice sheets takes a good 5 minutes, so there's some patience involved as they only took one order at a time. We did a custom roll ($10) with Oreo, coconut, and pineapple. It somehow ended up tasting like red bean, which I'm not complaining! Very refreshing and enjoyed every bite of it.

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Himalaya Ice - Tesla Rolls

Tesla Rolls

Himalaya Ice - Pick your own: Nutella, coconut and mint cookie

Pick your own: Nutella, coconut and mint cookie

Himalaya Ice

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Charrua Bistro Cafe - Empanadillas

Charrua Bistro Cafe

4.2(61 reviews)
0.4 km
•$

We were so happy to come across the "birra y empanadas" awning while walking around Old San Juan…read moreduring our 2-day stay. They have a $5 drink menu including beer, wine, mixed drinks, etc. Our first taste of their empanadas included their carne (beef) and pollo (chicken) options. In addition to these, they had some with setas (mushroom), chorizo (sausage), and espinaca (spinach). Since we stopped in on a Monday night, it was pretty quiet, but it seemed like there were a couple locals pulled up to the bar. The empanada case was continually refreshed as we sat and took in Desperately Seeking Susan on the bar TV, so no matter which flavor or what time you ordered, they were hot and fresh. In fact, we couldn't stop thinking about these empanadas... so the next day, before we called our cab, we walked over and literally waited outside until they opened their doors at 2:00 p.m. We sat on the front side of the bar this time and found the wide array of hot sauces! Anything you find in a honey bear is made in-house. We tried a bite with almost every sauce and fully enjoyed each one. The drinks and empanadas are definitely a great deal and I highly recommend stopping by for an afternoon or evening snack and beverage.

Service was great. Small bar with seating in front and a small back area. The empanadas de pollo…read morewere amazing! Drinks were good too - we had mojitos and rum punch, but they had tons of beer options as well.

Photos
Charrua Bistro Cafe - Bar

Bar

Charrua Bistro Cafe - Empanadas

Empanadas

Charrua Bistro Cafe - Small spot with good drinks and empanadas

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Small spot with good drinks and empanadas

Cafe Don Ruiz - coffee - Updated November 2026

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